Hey fellas, I have been trying to buy a mini for a while and have found one interstate. I had a good mate of mine check it out and the car comes with 3 different radiator panels, all with 3 different chassis numbers and none of them are attached to the car. Some of them are difficult to read but there is two that are readable. I have done a PPSR check using one of the chassis numbers that I am able to read but it returned no info. It does have an engine in it with a readable engine number though.

Last thing I want to do is buy a stolen car. I also don't want to be stuck with an unregisterable mini. Given that the radiator panel is a terrible place to put a chassis number, has anybody run into this in the past before? If I do buy it I will be registering it in NSW. Currently the car is in Vic.

This is the info that I have dug up - my buddy works at Vicroads and sent this -

Chassis number:
022X2S2M0928339
Not consistent with engine number
Not recorded as suspect on digital record for full reg or club permit.
This chassis number hasn’t been registered since paper records.
Believed Leyland Mini S 998

XNHA518Y101592
Not consistent with engine number
Not recorded as suspect on digital record for full reg or club permit.
This chassis number hasn’t been registered since paper records.
Believed Leyland Mini Sunshine 998 (Sunroof bodyshell)

Suggest giving the RTA a call and possibly also a place that does Blue Slips.

You will have more luck using the number that is on the firewall behind the master cylinders as that is what vicroads look for.

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Cheers Dave.

This will be registered in NSW as that's where I live.

The only other stamped number anywhere on the vehicle was this -

Yes that is the number. it would appear to be a Standard Clubman.

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Cheers Dave.

Great, thanks for the info Dave. I'll keep digging on the NSW side.

The ID stamped into the radiator shroud is what registration authorities should use. I realise a shroud is not fitted so that makes things problematical.

The body code and number stamping on the firewall should not be used for registration. The M2/22 is stamped at the beginning of vehicle assembly and tells the assembly line this is a YG2S6 model and hence what components are to be fitted (e.g. 1098 engine). Further down the line these stampings are painted over and usually difficult to see as they have served their purpose by this stage of vehicle assembly, when the final car number takes over. The final car number is approx 501 more than the body number and is stamped into the radiator shroud and on the ADR compliance plate.

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

That confirms that none of the chassis numbers that come with this vehicle are the right one for this car. I might ring Service NSW tomorrow and see what the process would be for getting a surrogate chassis number.

Engine number looks like 10YF UH7325 which I believe is from a Moke with 13 inch wheels. Also not helpful for identifying this car

I assume there was no ADR plate fitted?

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ex-NSW Police 1970 MK II Cooper S
VMCI #43

I appreciate that should be the norm but experience tells me otherwise. I have had a number of intense discussions with Vicroads when trying to register minis, they refuse to use any number which is not permanently affixed to the vehicle and do not consider pop rivets (adr plate) or spot welds (Rad shroud) to be permanant. This has led to the ludicrous sittuation of Vicroads making up a number and assigning said made up number to vehicles.

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Cheers Dave.

"..... The M2/22 is stamped at the beginning of vehicle assembly and tells the assembly line this is a YG2S6 model and hence what components are to be fitted (e.g. 1098 engine)..."

Interestingly I have a YG2S6 (according to the compliance plate - dated 12/72) Clubby down the back behind the shed (the engine no is 1000XXXX so assume its a 998.) I'm pretty sure it doesn't have any number stamped behind the master cylinders - I've looked carefully). It does have "YG2S6 XXXX" clearly stamped on the rad shroud. No sign of an M2 etc... Its mate, a 76 Van, has a number and MV/21 behind the master cyls. The rad shroud has numbers but is too mangled to read..

The Blue Slip inspector (the local R&M shop (aka motor registry) will give you a list of authorised shops) will (should??) have book that specifies the specs of your car. It "might" be comprehensive and include your model of Mini. Part of the description will include the location and translation of relevant numbers. Or, it might not. I had an argument once with a shop who refused to pass my Mother-in-Laws old Corolla. He claimed the wheelbase was too short..... Didn't help to point out that the data in his book referred to a model 5 or more years later than the car he was measuring.

In my experience (I have several English cars that don't play by Australian rules) the inspector should be relatively easily convinced that the numbers clearly stamped on the body work are the cars official identity. My car shows that win abbey's rule doesn't cover all YG2S6 Minis. The inspectors are not Government officials.

I would be asking the Motor Registry staff what they would require. Unfortunately not all Registries have permanent technical staff ... and the desk clerks often don't /can't/ won't provide an opinion. Maybe search out the local Blue Slip shop and ask their opinion/what they will accept??

Cheers, Ian

PS ..after seeing the post above.. NSW seems to adhere to the same rule (albeit with slight relaxation). One of my UK cars is registered using the "FE" number while the other uses the "Body Number". Both are stamped on small plates welded to the body.

On a clubby would not the car or body number be stamped into the gutter above the wiper motor? As for 69-71 roundnose?

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Thanks for the information everyone. I am able to get a pink/blue slip done with whatever number I want essentially (I used to be a mechanic and have several mates who can do inspections). I have asked them but they don't know what the answer is as none of them really deal with this old stuff or vehicles without IDs. My issue more lies with making sure I allocate a correct chassis number that hasn't been stolen. Maybe that is having an inspector stamp their own, I'm not sure. I will have no issue getting an inspector to pass it with whatever number I use. I would prefer to do it correctly though and have the RMS allocate a surrogate number but I can't seem to find what the process is for this. This kinda seems like we're getting into rebirthing territory here which concerns me. If I can't get an answer from Service NSW tomorrow then I might just have to pass and keep looking.

The other side to this is I don't want to be buying a mini that has been stolen from somebody as I would feel terrible, but I'm unable to confirm if it is or isn't.

10YFUH 7325 is from a 1972 Moke.

022X2S2M09 28339 is a Sep 1977 Mini S and the firewall body number 13037 M2/22 is within the correct range. It would likely have an engine in the 99H834AJH 11000s

XNHAB18Y 101592 is a June 1978 Mini S and it would have a firewall body number around 15000 M2/22. It would likely have an engine in the 99H834AJH 13000s or 99H889AJH 2000s as there was a bit of cross over with engines Apr-Jun 1978